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Ugandan Maid Sentenced To 4 Years In Jail

The infamous Ugandan maid has been sentenced to four years in jail for assaulting a toddler, in a case which sparked an online outrage after a video was released.

Jolly Tumuhirwe, 22, was filmed beating, kicking and stamping on the 18-month-old child when she resist feeding and then throwing her to the floor, beating her with a torch, before stepping on and kicking her.

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On Friday, during the hearing of the case she said the attack was revenge after she was beaten by the child's mother.  Which the mother denied ever beating her. Earlier charges of torture were also dropped.

She did not have a lawyer in court to represent her but had some of her family members with her and was sorry for she has done and ask for forgiveness. The Video showing the maid physically abusing a young child in Uganda has been watched more than 21 million times on Facebook, generating various comment.

The graphic footage, was taken from a camera hidden in the corner of the living room, by the child's father Eric Kamanzi said he installed the camera after he noticed bruises on his daughter and that she was limping. After capturing the violence on film, the police say he reported the incident to the police on 13 November.

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The disturbing video has since been widely shared on the internet, provoking horror and upset from  Uganda to California.

It's has risen a lot of debate in Uganda and the rest of the world about whether it's safe to pay for childcare, are maids and nannies being treated right, what qualification one should have before being employed as a child care?, is it a great idea for women to pursue a career while they leave their child with nannies?

Uganda police had advice that people should "[take] great care while selecting domestic helpers." They recommend that families do background checks with friends, neighbours, local police, council and previous employers before taking on such an employee.

The magistrate adjourned the case to Wednesday for the final ruling on the case.

Source : BBC Africa.

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